#Camping padre island national seashore free#

North Beach and South Beach camping is free with paid park admission. Note: camping is on a first-come, first-served basis and youll need to fill out a permit at the kiosk. The funny thing is, I thought beach camping at Rincon Parkway in Ventura, California was awesome until I experienced beach camping on Padre Island. Read How RVers Stay Connected on the Road.

#Camping padre island national seashore plus#

Our favorite spot is North Beach where its less crowded, plus we were able to get Verizon with our weBoost cell signal booster. We saw tent campers, car campers, large RVs and small RVs all along the beach.Īlthough there are no amenities on the beach, there is an RV dump station not far from Malaquite Visitor Center. Be sure to pick up a high tide flyer at the visitor center if you plan on camping on the beach. South Beach is the most popular beach camping destination. Primitive camping is abundant on Padre Island. Its primary nesting territory is the Gulf Coast of Texas. This protected species is the only sea turtle known to nest in the daytime. It is the smallest sea turtle and also the most endangered. The Kemps Ridley sea turtles migrate to the Texas coast and nest from April to August between Galveston, Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico. There is much to attract nature lovers to North Padre Island. Winter Texans Migrate To Padre IslandĪs snowbirds, or “Winter Texans” as the locals say, we joined the many Northerners who converge on Texas to escape the cold winter of northern climates. If in doubt, look how further back other tents are located to ensure you are out of waters way. In places like Padre Island, you will be somewhere at the base of the sand dunes, away from the open beach.Īlways refer to tide timings and check for any signs of high tide before setting up your tent. Thats why, we recommend finding a relatively flat spot that is away from the beach or vegetation and sand dunes. In many areas, like in the parks and reserves, the sand dunes are protected geological features and no camping is allowed on the dunes. Normal rules of the road apply on the beaches as well. That means they can get moving traffic, even at night.Īs such, make sure your campsite is well clear of the beach.ĭriving limit on the beaches is 15 mph.

In Texas, beaches are historically designated as state highways.

If there are a lot of campers and it is a crowded time of the year, then try to find a spot at least 80 to 100 yards from other campsites for some privacy. We recommend driving to a really clean and quiet area. This applies mostly if you are tent camping on an open beach like at South Beach on Padre Island National Seashore. However, if there are no rules specified then this is a general guide to choosing the best beach campsite. In that case, always follow the mentioned rules. Many parks and reserves have their own rules for choosing campsites or designated areas where you can camp.